These Are Men's Biggest Body Hang-Ups

We tend to think women are the only ones who experience major body insecurities, but new research has found that's just not the case. The Chapman University study analyzed reports from more than 100,000 men across five national studies and discovered that up to 40 percent of men were dissatisfied with their overall physical appearance, weight, and/or muscle tone and size. Most men also felt that they were judged by others based on their appearance and said they've compared the way they look with other men at social events. Researchers also looked at the differences in body hang-ups between gay and heterosexual men. While they found that gay men were more likely to feel pressure to look attractive (and even avoid sex because of body insecurities), they found that heterosexual men experienced a lot of the same issues—even if they weren't overweight. In fact, 20 percent of heterosexual men with a normal weight said they hide some aspect of their body during sex. The most common areas they hid: their stomach, followed by their chest, butt and thighs, and genitals. Other interesting findings: 30 percent of heterosexual men say they're dissatisfied with their muscle tone and size 23 percent

We tend to think women are the only ones who experience major body insecurities, but new research has found that's just not the case.

The Chapman University study analyzed reports from more than 100,000 men across five national studies and discovered that up to 40 percent of men were dissatisfied with their overall physical appearance, weight, and/or muscle tone and size. Most men also felt that they were judged by others based on their appearance and said they've compared the way they look with other men at social events.

Researchers also looked at the differences in body hang-ups between gay and heterosexual men. While they found that gay men were more likely to feel pressure to look attractive (and even avoid sex because of body insecurities), they found that heterosexual men experienced a lot of the same issues—even if they weren't overweight.

In fact, 20 percent of heterosexual men with a normal weight said they hide some aspect of their body during sex. The most common areas they hid: their stomach, followed by their chest, butt and thighs, and genitals.

Other interesting findings:

30 percent of heterosexual men say they're dissatisfied with their muscle tone and size
23 percent are interested in having cosmetic surgery
61 percent feel judged based on their appearance
39 percent regularly think about how they look

"Body image researchers have known for quite some time that body image is a concern for men," says lead study author David Frederick, Ph.D., an assistant professor in health psychology at Chapman University. "What was surprising was just how many men were dissatisfied with their appearance, their weight, and their muscle tone, and just how few men were satisfied."

Frederick notes that men are aware that women don't care about looks as much as they do when looking for a partner. However, they do know appearance matters more for women for short-term flings.

What can we take away from all of this? Your partner has body hang-ups, too, so maybe take a timeout every now and then to tell him how good he looks. It could have more of an impact than you'd think.